Chapter 142 He Knows Everything, Just Reluctant to Face It

ESPN's Marc Stein identified four culprits in the Lakers' hellish journey to a 4-9 record: Shaquille O'Neal (who underwent toe surgery before the season, causing him to miss the first dozen games), Samaki Walker (an ineffective emergency player), Kobe (who saw O'Neal's absence as a golden opportunity for "my time to shine"), and Phil Jackson (who appeared indifferent to the unfolding events).

Jackson's inaction was indeed unsettling. Ever since he became an NBA coach, he had never been afraid of confronting players head-on. If Jordan ignored open teammates, he would remind him; on nights when Pippen's shooting was off, he dared to set up the game-winning shot for Kukoč, infuriating the former; when Shaq's free-throw percentage was at its lowest, he urged him to practice more; when Kobe disobeyed orders, he would demand strict adherence to team rules.